Gas drier



April ll, 1950.

P. E. GELDHOF GAS DRIER Filed March 30, 1946 s shuts-sheet 1 #It x28 P. E. GELDHOF April 11, 195o.

GAS DRIER Fifed March so, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 O O OO O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O by EZ 474;

April 11, 1950 P. E. GELDHOF 2,503,330

GAs DRIER i Y Filed uarch so, 1946 l s 'sheets-sheet s April ll, 1950 P. E. GELbHoF;

GAS DRIER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 30, 1946 April 1l, 1956 P. E. GELDHOF 2,503,330

A @As DRIER Filed March so, 194g 6 sheets-sheet 5 ggg P. Eo GELDHOF GAS DRIER April 11g 195o 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 30, 1946 Patented Apr. ll, 1950 l UNITED sTATEs ,PATENT OFFICE GAS DRIER Peter Eduard Geldhoi', St. Joseph, Mich., assigner to Nineteen Hundred Corporation, St. Joseph, l Mich.. a corporation of New York Application March 30, 1946, Serial No. 658,511

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a gas drier and more particularly to a small, compact, unitary clothes and article drier of the type which is suitable for ordinary household use in conjunction with any laundry machine or washing apparatus and which derives its heat from a gas burner within the device.

One type of clothes drier for household use includes a rotating drum through which heated air is circulated. It is one of the principal features and objects of the present invention to provide a novel clothes drier of this general category which gives greatly improved results with a minimum expenditure of energy.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide novel means for heating and circulating air in a clothes or article drier.

It is a still further object of the present invention to` provide a horizontally rotating drum type vdrier having novel structural features and air heating means.

Another and further object of the present invention is -to provide novel air circulating and heating means for a clothes drier.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization, manner of construction and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a clothes drier embodying the novel principles and teachings of the present invention with the rear panel of the device removed, as indicated by the line I-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a vertical view of the device partly in section as taken along the line lI-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as taken along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as taken along the line IV--IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as taken along the line V-V of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a front view showing the general arrangement of the drier; and

Figure '7 is a rear view showing the general arrangement of the drier.

Referring rst to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the clothes drier I0 illustrated therein includes an outer shell or cabinet II in which is mounted a rotating drum I2 which is arranged to receive clothes or other articles 1.59 be dried.

2 The drum I2 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and is arranged to be driven by amotor Itthroughabelt drive I 4.

The cabinet II of the drier I0 is provided with an opening in the front wall thereof opposite the drum I2 as defined by a circular flange Il. The drum I2 has a peripheral wall I6, a rear wall I'I and a forward wall I8. The forward wall I6 has a central opening therein which is dened by a forwardly turned lip or flange I9.

The forwardly turned lip or tlange i9 of the drum I2 is disposed radially outwardly of the innermost end flange portion 20 of the flange I5. The flange or lip I9 carries a felt ring 2| which is secured to the ange I9 in any suitable manner. This felt ring 2l extends beyond the flange I9 into engagement with the shoulder 22 on the flange I5. It will thus be understood that while the drum I2 rotates with respect to the cabinet II, a reasonably good air seal is provided between the opening in the front wall IB of the Icllrum I2 and the forward wall of the cabine In order to have access to the drum I2 so as to be able to introduce clothes or other articles into the drum through the opening dened by the lip or ange I5, a door 23 is provided for the cabinet II. This door 23 is arranged to lie substantially flush with the frontwall or panel 24 of the cabinet II and accordingly the door 23 is arranged to be nested within the flange portion I5 of the cabinet I I so as to be seated substantially against the shoulder 22. The door 23 is provided with a grill 24 through which air may circulate. Air

intake holes 25 are provided in the back of the housing or casing II, as is clearly shown in Figure '7.

As may be seen best in Figures l and 5 of the drawings, the drum I2 is mounted on a pedestal 26 which is in the form of an upstanding tubular member 21 having a pair of diverging legs 28. The diverging legs 28 are made up of a single channel-shaped bracket which is wrapped around the tubular member 21 and welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. It will be observed that the legs 28 which form this bracket extend well beneath the rotating drum I2 and thus supply a satisfactory rigid base for the rotating assembly.

A bearing support sleeve 29 is seated on the top of the tubular member 21, the latter being cutaway so it fits snugly around a portion of the sleeve 29 (see Fig. l). 'I'he sleeve 29 may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the top of the tubular member 21.

Within the tubular sleeve 2S are disposed two bearing sleeves 33 and 3| which may, by way of example, be porous metal lubricant-impregnated bearing sleeves. These bearing sleeves 3l and 3l. are disposed at opposite ends of the stationary sleeve Il. In order to provide additionaliubricant a felt or other packing ring is carried in the sleeve Il between the two bearings 3l and 3|.

The rotating drum l2 is provided with a frame or spider in the form of three radially extending supporting arms 33, 34 and 3B. These arms 33, 34 and l3l are secured to a hub 33 which in turn is mounted on and secured to a shaft 31. The shaft 31 extends through the bearings 30 and 3| ing 41 is quite lclose to the blades 44 of the blower 4I at one point, and then gradually becomes farther and farther away from the blower blades.

This, of course, is standard scroll casing practice for any blower of the type herein illustrated.

and thus supports the drum I2 on the pedestal 33. The rear end of the shaft 31 is of slightly reduced diameter and has secured on its outer extremity a large pulley 3l which is the main drive pulley for the drum I2, as will hereinafter be explained.

Between the end of the sleeve '28 and the large drive pulley 33 a fan hub .33 is rotatably mounted. The fan hub 3l has its rearward end provided with a V-groove 4I for receiving the V-belt I4 from the motor i3. Ihe fan hub 30 is also provided with a bearing 4l which may, by way of example. be a porous metal lubricantimpreg' hated bearing'sleeve. An oil-impregnated felt ring 42 is mounted in a suitable recess between the bearing sleeve 4| and the hul-1 3! at an intermediate portion thereon.

A blower 43 having a plurality of blades 44 held together by end rings 45 and 43 is mounted on the hub 39. As illustrated, this blower 43 is of the type which sucks air in axially and throws it out radially within a scroll casing 4 1.

Before the air heating and circulating system of the present invention is described, attention is directed to the fact that the blower 4l is driven at a much higher sneed than the speed of rotation of the drum I2. This is accomplished by causing the belt drive I4 which extends around the motor drive pulley 48 and the 1V-groove 4d of the hub 39 to also pass around a large idler pulley 4s which is mounted for free rotation on a sub shaft 5l. The idler pulley 4l has associated therewith a pulley ll of much smaller diameter which lies in the `plane of the large drum pulley 33. A second V-belt l2 extends around the small pulley 5| and the large drive pulley 3l. It will thus be understood that a substantial speed reduction is obtained between the motor drive pulley 43 and the large drum pulley 33 which is driven thereby. 'I'he sub shaft B0 may be suitably biased by a helical spring I3 to tension the main drive belt I 4.

One of the principal features of novelty of the present invention lies in the manner in which the air is heated and circulated in the drier. Since the manner in which the air passes through the device is somewhat peculiar it is necessary, in the ensuing description. to carefully bear in mind all of the various ngures ofthe drawings.

As previously indicated, the air inlet openings for the general housing II are the openings 25 in the rear wall of the housing il. These holes 2l do not directly connect with any ducts. 'Ihe blower 43, as previously pointed out. is mounted within a housing or scroll casing 41 which is sup- 'I'he plate member 41, which forms the rear housing member of the housing 41,' has a circular opening therein which is defined by an inturned flange 5l.- The flange 59 is located radially inwardly of the blades 44and is concentric with the axis of rotation of the blower 43. This opening defined by the edge 50 is therefore the air intake opening to the blower 44. Upon rotation of the blower it will be apparent that air will be forced downwardly through the air duct 58, where it is passed into the gas heating unit which will now be described.

The gas heating unit of the drier III includes a double walled housing .Il which is mounted on the base 6| of the drier I0 and extends from a region in proximity to the front wall 24 of the drier I0 to a region in proximity to the rear wall 62. The heating unit 80 includes an outer shell 63 andan inner shell 64. The two shells Il and 64 are welded 'or otherwise suitably secured to a forward wall 65. The inner shell 84 is provided with a rear wall 66 which is welded or otherwise end of the inner shell 34.

An opening si is provided 1n the forward wan and a gas pipe 68 also extends through the forward wall 65. The gas pipe 68 is provided with a series of burner openings 89 through which the gas escapes. Astack 10 extends from the inner shell 64 out through the top of the housing Il and conveys away the products of combustion of the burning gas supplied from the gas pipe 68. The gas pipe i8 has a suitable gas control valve therein which is operated by a handle extending through the lower front wall of the housing II`.

The space between the inner shell 64 and the outer shell 63 provides a passageway through which the air is forced by the blower 43 on its way to the drum I2. The outer shell G3 has an end wall 12 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Althoughthe stack 1l ported at its upper end on the bearing supporting sleeve 29 through a bracket I4 anda bracket The bloyver housing 41 is made passes through the space between the inner shell 34 and the outer shell 63, it will be observed that there is no air connection between the two. Now this chamber between the inner shell 84 and the vouter shell 63 is divided up by partitions in such a manner that the air has a long circuitous passageway over the outer surface of the inner shell 64. By providing such a long and circuitous passageway adequate time is provided for raising the temperature of the air to the desired temperature for drying the clothes or other articles in the .rotating drum l2. One partition is inserted between the inner shell I4 and the outer shell 33 in the form of a plate 13 which extends from the stack wall 10 to a point 14 spaced somewhat back from the forward wall v35. A second partition 15 is provided which lies substantially in a plane at rig-ht angles to the partition 13 and in proximity to the lower end of the duct 58. 'I'his partition 15 extends upwardly from the bottom wall of the outer shell 83 between the side walls of the inner and outer shells 64 and 63 to a point where it is seated tightly against the stack (see particularly Figs. 2 and 3).

The blower housing 41 with its lower duct portion 58 is directly connected to the outer shell 63 by means of a collar 16, a hole 11 being cut in the outer shell 63 for direct connection with the duct 58. It will be noted that this hole 11 is located rearwardly of the partition 15. A second hole or opening 18 is cut in the outer shell B3 forwardly of the partition 15 and on the same side. This opening 18 opens into an air outlet duct 19 which is formed of two casing halves 80 and 8|. The housing formed by the casing halves 88 and 8|, in addition to the lower duct portion 19, includes an annular duct portion 82 which is concentrically located around the drum shaft N, it being noted, of course, that the duct 19 merges into the annular duct 82. The front casing half 80 of this annular duct 82 is provided with a plurality of openings 83 which are located within the axially extending flange 8l which defines the large opening in the rear of the drum i2.

From the above description it will be apparent that air which is taken in by the blower 43 is forced down through the duct 58 into the outer shell 63 of the gas heating unit, through the opening 11. It then passes down over the heated inner shell surface 64 on the side and top which lies to one side of the partition 13. It then passes across to the other half of the gas heating unit through the opening which is provided between the forward end 14 of the partition 13 and the forward Wall 65 of the gas housing unit.

It then passes back over the other half of the inner shell 64 where it is further heated and then out through the opening- 18 into the outlet duct 19. From here the heated air passes up into the annular duct 82 and then out through the openings 83 into the rotating drum l2. In passing through the rotating drum I2 it dries the clothes or other articles therein and finally escapes through the grill 24 of the door 23.

The above described structure provides an extremely compact and inexpensive clothes drier, and yet, at the same time, provides an arrangement in which the air can be quickly and eiliciently heated to a. relatively high point before it is passed through the clothes drum where the clothes or other articles are being tumbled.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention and described a particular method of operation, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims, to cover all such modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a clothes drier of the type wherein a clothes-receiving drum having end members through which air may be circulated is disposed within the casing of the drier for rotation about a. substantially horizontal axis, an air heating device comprising a combustion chamber having a burner therein, a second chamber surrounding at least a portion of said combustion chamber, baille means within said second chamber to provide a circuitous air passageway therethrough over said combustion chamber, and means for circulating air through said second chamber and then through said drum.

2. In a clothes drier of the type wherein a clothes-receiving drum having end members through which air may be circulated is disposed within the casing of the drier for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, an air heating device comprising a combustion chamber having a gas burner therein, a second chamber surrounding at least a. portion of said combustion chamber, baille means within said second chainber to provide a circuitous passageway for air circulating therethrough over said combustion chamber, an air inlet duct communicating with said second chamber at one end of said circuitous passageway, an air feeder duct leading from said second chamber from the opposite end of said circuitous passageway to one end of said drum, and a blower in said inlet duct.

3. In a clothes drier of the type wherein a clothes-receiving drum having end members through which air may be circulated is disposed within the casing of the drier for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, an air heating device comprising a. combustion chamber having a gas burner therein, a second chamber surrounding at least a portion of said combustion chamber, baille means within said combustion chamber to provide a circuitous path over said combustion chamber around which air must pass when it is circulated through said second chamber, an air inlet duct communicating with said second chamber at one end of said circuitous path, the open end of said duct being located to the rear of said opening in said rear wall of said drum, an air feeder duct leading from said second chamber at the opposite end of said circuitous passageway to a point directly opposite said opening in said rear wall of said drum, and opening toward said opening in said wall, and a blower at the inlet end of said inlet duct.

4. An article drier comprising a support, a drum rotatably mounted on said support, said drum having ends with openings therein through which air may pass, a heating device displaced laterally from the axis of said drum having an air intake duct leading thereto and a discharge duct leading therefrom and terminating opposite an opening in an end of said drum, the intake end of said inlet duct and the discharge end of said outlet duct both being disposed coaxially of said drum, and an air moving element disposed to move air through said vducts and said heating device. y

5. An article drier comprising a support, a drum rotatably mounted on said support, said drum having ends with coaxial openings therein, a Iheating device displaced laterally from the axis of said drum having an air intake duct leading thereto and an air discharge duct leading therefrom, the intake end of said inlet duct being disposed coaxially of said drum and facing away from said drum, the discharge end of said outlet duct being disposed coaxially of said drum between said intake end of said inlet duct and said drum and facing said drum, land an air moving element disposed in said duct and heating device system for drawing air in through said inlet duct and discharging it from said outlet duct through said drum.

6. An article drier comprising a support, a drum rotatably mounted on said support, said drum having ends through which air may circulate, a combustion chamber having a burner therein, an air heating chamber including an inlet port disposed coaxially of said drum, a heat transfer section immediately adjacent said combustion chamber and a discharge port disposed coaxially of said drum immediately adjacent an open end thereof, and means for drawing air in through said coaxial inlet port, through said air heating 7 chamber and then discharging it from said discharge port into said drum.

7. In a clothes drier of the type wherein a clothes-receiving drum having end members through which air may be circulated is disposed within the casing of the drier for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, an air heating device comprising a combustion chamber extending lengthwise in the casing for substantially the entire length thereof, a closed heating chamber adjacent said combustion chamber having communication with one end of the drum, and a blower mounted in said casing for drawing air thereinto and directing it through said heating chamber, said heating chamber being divided lengthwise into two connected passageways so that air is forced to tra-vel down one passageway for the entire length of the combustion chamber and return through the other passageway and then into said rotating drum.

8. In a clothes drier of the type wherein a clothes-receiving drum having end members through which air may be circulated is disposed within the casing of the drier for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, an air heating device comprising a combustion chamber extend- 8 ing longitudinally in the casing adjacent the drum, a U-shaped air heating chamber surrounding said combustion chamber and divided into two connected passageways by a baille plate which extends longitudinally for a portion ot the length of the heating chamber, a discharge passage from said heating chamber in communication with one end oi' said drum, an niiet passage connected to said heating chamber and a blower connected in said inlet passage.

PETER EDUARD GELDHOF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of, record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 412,539 Preston et al Oct. 8, 1889 1,060,254 Hill Apr. 29. 1913 1,453,312 Engel May 1, 1923 2,369,366 ONeill Feb. 13, 1945 2,372,790 Morgenstern Apr. 3, 1945 2,389,433 Hough Nov. 20, 1945 2,393,380 Jorgensen et al. Jan. 22, 1946 

